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Bob Cusack, Managing Editor of 'The Hill', discusses the latest on the recall election and its implications on the presidential race
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All right -- wanna turn out of Bob Cusack who's managing editor of the hilly joins us so live from.
Our DC bureau -- always great chatting with he's got three great stories today.
I -- tackle them one by one the first one is entitled -- labor fallout begins in Wisconsin explain.
Yeah a lot of attention here graying gap between Democrats in Washington in Democrats.
In Wisconsin and and basically bottom Democrats -- just done that president -- has not gone out to Wisconsin.
To try to rally the troops or vice president.
Joseph -- M did Joseph Biden -- the DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has.
But she does not have that and the political power of a Biden or Obama about this thing was really close Orwell.
Bill Clinton is definitely one that you know you've seen Bill Clinton do a lot of different things we -- it is a primary today when Bill Clinton and Obama on and on different sides here so.
Bill -- I don't think we'll get the blame because he has gone out there right but Obama and Biden.
Have not so if this thing is razor close and walker wins they'll be lot of second guessing.
Among Democrats is just been very disappointing and an -- and of course the.
Whoever wins this I mean in politics it comes down a wins and losses -- that the losing side is gonna try to spin here.
But the winner it is gonna have a huge boost going into November Republicans have already said that.
You know Wisconsin is certainly leans left in recent presidential elections but -- walker wins this its its it could be it could be switching in November.
If walker wins in -- loses what does this say about the power either increasing or -- -- Of unions in America.
I'd be a huge blow to the union -- enemy may have been working on this for eighteen months.
They thought that they had a lot of momentum remember all all the rallies that were held this -- gotten so much attention.
And it comes down to this so if they lose it would be a big blow.
To organized labor and remember.
Present -- Obama as is worried about the conservative super pacs and and what he has on his side are the union so.
I'm not saying the unions and in -- vote for Mitt Romney but they may not be as enthusiastic for Obama if.
If walker went right I love the other story just because it it -- provocative it because it has to do with the vogue editor Anna wintour.
You guys who who knows a lot about fashion but I daresay not a lot about anything else.
-- Romney is using.
The -- they came out.
Last Friday by the way on the very same day that the unemployment numbers when bad timing.
Yeah to solicit support.
In a dinner.
With President Obama right.
Yet this is -- Romney came campaign.
Deftly using the Obama campaign in its own and an -- in this web that and basically looking to portray Obama as out of touch we had a front page.
Washington Post story on celebrities and -- -- and how that could.
Could hurt.
The democratic cause come November -- is something that Obama has to be very careful.
A ballot because -- and he's been rubbing elbows with Jon Bon Jovi and and George Clooney.
-- -- In both Romney and Obama have that have a problem and it's it's connecting with average -- voters and this is playing into the GOP's hand that's why they use that -- You know I I did make a rather off handed remark.
But in its hyperbole clearly.
But that that ever since the president was sworn in he's done three things he's given campaign speeches almost from the moment you know that he.
Held up his hand and -- I you know I will or whatever.
He's given a lot of campaign speeches he has done more fund raisers.
In his three and a half years in office -- I think he seeks predecessors combined.
He's played a lot of golf I watch it right and I lost track and I any rounds -- you expect Republicans to -- came for those things.
I do he he has played a lot of golf and that has been Romney another White House -- -- in the Republican primary and including Newt Gingrich.
-- after Obama on that -- scale back his golf a little bit.
He still golf from time time I don't think that he's going to be -- as much this year.
But they want to portray this president is out of touch who can deliver a campaign speech a very effective campaign speech.
But that it comes down to substance and I think that whoever picks whoever -- picks.
For his VP.
If it's gonna be substantive pick what they say will listen.
The Democrats may being more quote -- exciting by the media.
But we're substantive and we're gonna give you results not just campaign speeches and that's where the message war is right now.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- If you ask yourself -- I don't flatter -- -- That's fitness if you go there but don't.
I'm your third story which I thought was on awfully good Romney seized jump in voters.
Who hold a positive view of him for the longest time.
He really had a net negative now I always attributed that to the primary season in which you know you get beat up and bloodied and -- and badgered.
But he's seen a jump now.
Yeah and and this is -- because it shows it.
That's number one.
Republican.
Hopefuls for the White House connected with Romney -- they made him look.
Less favorable to the American public and and since that time is Romney has is defeated his -- on the Republican side.
Now Obama has gone after him on a -- bases including at Bain Capital where it which some Democrats have questioned that strategy.
-- -- these numbers have gone up fourteen points now Obama's numbers are still higher but he has closed the gap and this goes right at that like ability get.
That Romney has -- Has to close again he doesn't have to be ahead of the president I just like even where Ronnie does not have to be head of the present on the women vote but he's got to close that gap including.
On Hispanic side so.
This is shown that Romney has been able to take the punches at least from the DNC and President Obama.
-- -- -- -- -- Bob -- is David Axelrod.
The face of the campaign other than President Obama.
And I'm not sure that's a good face to have out there and I mean literally his face bit.
Right you know I was watching him on the Sunday talk shows -- the last couple of months.
And then of course -- now infamous appearance at the Massachusetts State House in which he was really thrown off his game because he was tackled.
By Romney supporters.
I just I I wonder.
If they need to deep six axle rod from the front center camera.
Yeah he's a very good campaign strategists no question about that -- -- that that I'm not sure he's the good.
Spokesperson.
For the president what do you think.
I think it Democrats in Washington are struggling with us of who should be the face of that the president and clearly.
It's going to be the president.
To a lesser degree the vice president but Joseph Biden has has made some gaffes they are but they're -- -- about that in 2008.
And never concerned very concerned about two -- -- because this race is actually going to be closer and a -- could make the difference between winning and losing where will it wasn't going to be the case in 2008.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been out there are some Democrats.
Think that she's doesn't come across as as for an appealing to independents -- so I mean that's what an -- -- an axle -- I think gets it back to is that.
You have to have a surrogate who is going to.
Appeal to independents because that's what we're talking about the primaries are over.
It's it's an appeal to independent voters -- and I think that a lot of Democrats have been talking about.
Who are the best -- so maybe it's it's some in congress but.
But we we've seen some some gaffes including from -- -- Cliburn who reasoning was on television and and made some provocative statements.
And the Obama campaign had to distance himself so.
This is something that they I think -- campaign is wrestling with how much to put axle rod does Robert -- play more overall.
Maybe that's it.
You know all right Bob well was traveling to a different part of the country a few days ago and Matt somebody -- at.
Political and financial supporter of Mitt Romney financial interest of the super -- -- -- very influential guy and and quite.
A remarkable fellow and he said this whole primary thing was good for Mitt Romney it made him tougher.
And and forces killed at at making he's case.
You think so.
I say yes to a degree I mean he had some Romney had some major stumbles including his remark about I like to fire people -- he had he had a number of of gas throughout the primary but.
But voters don't remember them because and then the -- staff that Gingrich brought up a mean game which is not claiming credit for that -- Republicans are still angry Internet.
But but that was all vetted -- -- that when Obama raised it.
It didn't have the punch that it that it did when Gingrich brought it -- so.
There is no doubt about that some Republicans believe that -- He has gotten better he showed he could take a punch but.
Will he be as quick on his feet as he needs to be because in the debates you know it's going to be Obama is a great.
Campaign speech but deliver but as far as like being on his feet and when he went toe to toe with Hillary Clinton in the debates.
-- -- -- it was it was basically a draw so I I think you know -- over the next couple months of the Obama campaign.
Really stressing it went in and he hasn't had a debate in so long and -- said -- -- when he did debates did did those debates help Romney.
Absolutely all right Bob Cusack managing editor of the yellow is -- bill.
Our viewers should sue it's the hill dot com very simple.
